Textile processing arrangement and method for spinning fibers into yarn



May 12, 1964 R. v. PUTNAM 3,132,465

TEXTILE P ESSING A NGEMENT AND METHOD FOR INNING F RS INTO YARN FiledFeb. 4, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. RICHARD V. PUTNAM May 12, 1964R. v. PUTNAM 3,132,465 TEXTILE PROCESSING ANGEMENT AND METHOD FORSPINNING ERS INTO YARN Filed Feb. 4, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.RICHARD V, PUTNAM May 12, 1964 v PUTNAM 3,132,465

TEXTILE PROCESSING ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR SPINNING FIBERS INTO YARNFiled Feb. 4, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

RICHARD V. PUTNAM ATTORNEY May 12, 1964 R. v. PUTNAM 3,132,465 TEXTILEPROCESSING ARRAN ENT AND METHOD FOR SPINNI YARN NG FIBER NTO Fil ed Feb.4, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. RICHARD V. PUTNAM ATTORNEY May 12,1964 R. v. PUTNAM 3,132,465 TEXTILE PROCESSING ARRANGEMENT AND METHODFOR SPINNING FIBERS INTO YARN Filed Feb. 4, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. RICHARD V. PUTNAM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,132,465TEXTILE PRGCESSING ARRANGEMENT AND METHUD FUR SPINNING FIBERS INTU YARNRichard V. Putnam, Spartanhurg, S.., assiguor to Desiring Milli-henResearch Corporation, Spartanhurg, SAG, a corporation of Delaware FiledFeb. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 256,165 34 Qlahns. (Ci. 7-58389) This applicationis a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 221,722, filedSeptember 6, i962, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to an improved textile processing arrangement andmethod, and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus forspinning textile staple fibers into a yarn or the like.

It has long been recognized as desirable to provide for spinning oftextile fibers without the requirement for a twister type take-up,suchas a ring and traveler device. Various mechanisms and methods havebeen attempted in the past for achieving this end; however, for variousreasons none of these prior art systems has to my knowledge beenentirely satisfactory.

It is an object and featureof the present invention to provide animproved yarn spinning system which does not require the employment of atwister type take-up to spin the yarn, and which will provide a yarn ofsatisfactory quality and uniformity having a particular characteristicof a substantially smooth surface with little hairiness compared tonormal yarn and substantial uniformity. Also, the yarns producedaccording to this invention are characterized by substantial parallelorientation of fibers in the major central body portion of the yarn.

Still other features and attendant advantages will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following detailed description ofseveral physical embodiments constructed according to the invention,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view in perspective of the physical embodimentconstructed according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective'of a modification according to theinvention.

FIGURE 3 is a furthermodification incorporating the preferred mode ofpractice of the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic illustration as viewed from the end of thespinning roll, and illustrating particularly the arrangement of thefiber and yarn control bands with respect to the periphery of thespinning roll.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a further modification in which the rotor isprovided with an annular collection groove.

FIGURE 6 is .a partial longitudinal section of a wall portion of therotor of FIGURE 5 in the zone of the collection ring.

FIGURE 7 is a schematic perspective of a further modificationincorporating a false twister.

FIGURES 811 illustrate a further modification, in which FIGURE 8 isa'schematic view in perspective, FIG- URE 9 is a schematic partial sideelevation, and FIGURE 10 is a schematic end view of the rotor assemblyof FIG- URE 8. a

FIGURE 11 is a schematic sideelevation of a further modificationaccording to the invention.

Referring now in .detail to the figures of the drawings, theillustrative embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 includes fiber metering andfeeding means in the form of nip rolls 13, 13 which feed a running massof staple fibers 11, as in the form of roving or sliver or the like, inmetered relation to a fiber spinning device 15 in the form of a rotor 19which is somewhat smoothly rounded and closed at one end and connectedat the opposite'open end to a suitable source of negative pressure, inthe form of a blower 22, by an intermediate stationary vacuum conduit 24disposed in close adjacency to the opposite open end of the rotor. Therotor 19 has a hollow cavity 19b formed therein which connects throughthe open end of the rotor to the stationary vacuum conduit 2 1-. Ifdesired, as for the purpose of reducing vacuum losses, a rotary fluidconnecting joint may be employed between the conduit 24 and the rotor19, although such has not been found necessary in practice.

The rotor 19 has an annular series of holes 19a formed therein andconnecting between its outer annular periphery and the inner vacuumcavity 1%. The annular zone formed on the periphery of the rotor 19along the circumferential line of the series of holes 19a serves as anannular fiber storage and transfer zone for the fibers 11 which are fedto the rotor from the metering feed rolls 13.

The rotor 19 and feed rolls 13 may be suitably driven in synchronousrelation with one another as by a motor M, which may likewise beemployed for driving a suitable take-up device, which may suitably takethe form of a peripheral surface drive roll 25 which may surface driveat constant take-up rate a take-up bobbin, tube, or the like, 23 hemotor M may be connected to the feed rolls 13, rotor 19 and take-up 25in suitable manner, as through mechanical or other suitable connectionsgenerally indicated at 2-9, 31, 33, and speed ratio adjustment means asin the form of conventional change gears or other suitable means, may beprovided for changing the ratio of drive to each of the nip rolls 13,rotor 19 and take-up drive 25, in order to provide the desired yarncount and twist for a given size of input fiber mass 11 passing to thenip rolls 13. The rotor 19 will, of course, be supported by one or morebearings, not shown, of conventional and suitable construction, whichhearing or bearings may suitably be disposed on one or both sides of anannular series of gear or sprocket teeth 27 formed or secured on theperiphery of the rotor 19 between the series of holes 19a and the openend of the rotor, which gear teeth may suitably be employed for positivedrive of the rotor 19 from the mechanical drive connection 29.

In operation of the illustrative arrangement of FIG- URE 1, a runninglength of staple fibers 11 in the form of roving, sliver or the like isfed in metered relation by the feed rolls 13 which are preferablyparallel to the axis of the rotor 19 in order to dispose the rolls at asuitably close position to the rotor 19, to minimize V windage problems,and to aid in vacuum utilization in fiber transfer to the rotor 11% fromthe feed means 13 thereto. As the cavity 191 of the rotor 19 is undervacuum through the operation of the blower 22, the staple fibers 11 willbe attracted to the fiber storage and transfer zone formed along theline of the annular series of holes 19:: on the rotor 19, and therotation of the rotor will cause the buildup of a ring 26 ofsubstantially circumferentially aligned and overlapping staple fibersalong this series of holes 1%. The fibers in the storage and transferring 26 cling to the peripheral surface of the rotor 19 along the lineof apertures or holes 19a under the influence of the pneumaticdiiferential pressure action on the fibers in the zone of the holes 19a,with some of the fibers having one or more of the ends extending to somedegree into the holes 19a, but not to such anextent that the fiberscannot be removed from the rotor surface during the formation of theyarn Y therefrom. V

The fiber storage and transfer ring 26 is continuously changing in fibercontent by the removal of fibers therefrom in the form of yarn Y and thefeeding of fiber stock 11 thereto from feed rolls 13, the feed rates ofinput and removal being correlated so as to maintain a substantiallyconstant balance in the storage and'transfer ring during operation. Ayarn Y is formed from the storage and transfer ring 26 and is passedover the free end of the rotor 19 in an orbiting balloon generatrixpath, through a yarn guide 21 which is coaxial with rotor 19, and issubsequently taken up on the take-up roll 23 which is driven at aconstant surface velocity by the take-up drive roll 25.

In the initial starting up of the apparatus of the embodiment of FIGURE1, either of two methods may be employed. According to one method, therotor19 and feed rolls 13 may be briefly operated to form a suitablesmall ring of fibers 26 along the line of holes 1% on the rotor 19,after which a previously formed yarn Y, or other filament, is thenconnected to the storage and transfer ring of fibers 26 by lightlyrubbing the free end of the yarn in a twisting manner against the ringof fibers 26. Thereupon the motor M may again be restarted tosynchronously drive the feed rolls 13, rotor 19 and take-up 25, 23,whereupon the yarn Y will be drawn onto the take-up roll 23, and will becontinuously formed through a parasitic twisting and pulling action atthe moving take-off point along the annular length of the storage andtransfer ring of fibers 26 extending along the line of apertures 1%.Alternatively, in lieu of forming the initial small ring of fibers asalong the line of the holes 190 on the rotor 19, one may take apreviously formed length of yarn Y or other filament and wrap such forone or two turns or so about the line of holes 19a, leading the free endof the yarn over the outer free closed end of the rotor and through theguide 21 to the take-up 25, 23, and thereupon starting the motor M tosynchronously drive each of the feed rolls 13, rotor 19 and take-up 25,23, whereupon the seed yarn Y will be drawn forward by the take-up 23,and will parasitically pick up, twist and form into yarn the discretefibers which will immediately begin to be pulled onto and formed into aring 25 along the line of holes 19a on the rotor.

The rotary motion of the rotor 19 imparts a rotation or orbitingmovement to the yarn Y, which is at a lesser rate than the rate ofrotation of the rotor 19 due to the travel of the yarn take-off pointalong the ring 26 during yarn formation. The precise rate of rotation ofthe balloon formed by the yarn Y will be a function of both the rate ofrotation of the rotor 19, the diameter of the rotor 19 along the line ofholes 19a, and the rate of takeup of the roll 23. The point of formationand take-off of the yarn Y at the storage and transfer line of fibers 26is not fixed, but moves continuously along the length of the storage andtransfer ring 26 at a rate equal to the difference between the balloonrotation rate and the rate of rotation of the rotor 19. Thus, theorbiting of the yarn Y by and about the rotor 19 imparts a twist betweenthe first twist stop at the output end of the yarn balloon and theorigination point of the yarn at the take-off point on the storage ring26, and this twist which is present at the take-off point on the storagering 26 causes a twisting of the fibers at the point of contract of theyarn with the storage ring 26. The continuing progression of thistakeoff or contact point of the yarn Y along the storage ring 25 effectsthe continual formation of additional yarn in a running or travelingtake-off fashion about the entire length of the storage ring, wherebythe storage ring is continually in a state of flux with the fibers beingtwisted and removed in the form of yarn Y and added thereto in the formof substantially discrete fibers from the nip rolls 13. The rate ofrotation of the rotor 1% with respect to the nip rolls 13 may be and ispreferably such as to effect a very substantial degree of drafting ofthe fibers between the nip rolls and the storage and transfer ring 26 onthe rotor 19, or'if desired, particularly if comparatively low rotorvelocity is tolerable for a given instance, the entire drafting of thestaple fibers 11 may be effected prior to passage through the nip rolls13, or a combination of drafting may be eifected both prior to' andsubsequent to passage through the nip rolls 13. In any event a discretefiber delivery should be effected onto the rotor along the storage andtransfer ring 26. If prior drafting is desired, any suitableconventional drafting arrangement may be employed.

While the embodiment of FIGURE 1 is entirely operative and suitable forsome operations, the angular velocity of the rotor 19 is substantiallylimited due to action of centrifugal force on the yarn Y tending tobreak the yarn at the point of connection with the storage and transferring 26. However, rotor velocity of up to approximately 2,600 or 3,000rpm. has been obtained with this system.

In the illustrative embodiment of FIGURE 2 a rotor 19 is employed as inthe embodiment of FIGURE 1, with the addition of a fiber control band117 which serves to aid in overcoming the centrifugal force action onthe yarn Y during orbiting thereof, and thereby permitting theemployment of substantially greater rotor velocity, with consequentgreater yarn feed rate and/ or yarn twist. In this embodiment the fibercontrol band 117 passes about a plurality of guide rolls 117a, 11712, atleast one of which guide rolls 11712 is preferably flanged in order toprovide for lateral stability of the fiber control band along the lengthof the rotor 19.

According to this embodiment the fiber control band 117 engagesapproximately one-half, more or less, of the peripheral surface of therotor 19, along the line of holes 19a forming the storage and transferzone about which the storage and transfer ring 26 is formed. Bydisposing the fiber control band 117 in this position such may serve notonly the function of containing the ballooning yarn against centrifugalforce action thereon, but may also aid in supporting the fibers betweenthe rotor 19 and the fiber feed rolls and aprons 113a, 1131:. It willalso be noted that the fiber control band 117 in this illustrativeembodiment extends on both sides of the annular row of holes 1911forming the fiber storage and transfer zone. The portion of the fibercontrol band 117 which extends between the annular row of apertures 1%and the free closed end of the rotor 19 is of substantial importance inthis action of containing the orbiting yarn Y against centrifugal forcesthereon and preventing severance of the yarn from the storage andtransfer ring of fibers 26, and while it is considered most desirable toengage the band also along the ring 26, it may in some instances befeasible and desirable to dispose a fiber control band solely in thezone between the row of holes 1% and the free outer closed end of therotor, in which instance the fiber control band serves primarily therole of opposing the centrifugal forces exerted on, and containing, theyarn during its orbiting and yarn formation by and about the rotatingrotor 19.

It will be noted that in the illustrative embodiment of FIGURE 2, inaddition to the fiber control band 117, this embodiment is alsoillustrated with feed rolls 122 between the coaxial guide 21 and take-up23, 25, in order to aid in positive control of the feed rate of the yarnto the take-up, it being understood that the motor M may likewise drivethese feed rolls at a desired synchronized rate. Additionally, asmentioned above this embodiment is also illustrated as employing feedrolls 113a with fiber control aprons 113]) associated therewith formetered fiber feed. The feed roll and fiber control apron arrangement113a, 113b, may be of any suitable conventional construction as isemployed in conventional spinning frames.

While the employment of a single fiber control band 117 is of materialaid in permitting the increase of rotor and yarn balloon velocity, Ihave found. that in order to achieve maximum rotor and balloonvelocities it is desirable to employ two fiber control bands in order toencompass a larger portion of the rotor periphery, and preferably all oralmost all of the rotor periphery. Such an embodiment is illustrated inFIGURES 3 and 4, Wherein a second fiber control band 217 is disposedbetween the fiber control band 117 and the free outer closed end of therotor 19. This second fiber control band is preferarenas- 5 ably spacedfrom the control band 117, and may be suitably guided about a guidepulley 217a spaced from the rotor 19. Also, for illustrative purposes,this embodiment is illustrated as including a conventional pre-draftingarrangement 213 having drafting rolls 213a additional to the rolls 213aand aprons 213/5 as shown in the embodiment of FIGURE 2. It will, ofcourse, be appreciated that any suitable input feed, or take-up,arrangement may be employed with this or any of the other illustrativeembodiments or such other embodiments as are constructed according tothe invention. However, as in the instance of input feeding of anoriginally very heavy mass of staple fibers such as sliver, it maybemost advantageous to rely upon a substantial degree of predrafting orperhaps entire drafting prior to passage from the feed rools immediatelypreceding the rotor assembly.

According to this latter embodiment of FIGURES 3 V and 4, the yarnballoon is contained by each of the fiber control bands 117 and 217against centrifugal force action thereon, the two fiber control bandsserving to complement one another in their peripheral balloon controlfunctions in this respect. While by employing a smooth light tension onthe fiber control bands H7 and 217 it is possible to encompass theentire periphery of the rotor 19 by the control bands and stilleffectively form yarn with this apparatus, I have found that whenemploying a fairly tight tension, (e.g., 75 to 100 grams or more statictension for 20s count cotton yarn) on the fiber control bands it isdesirable to leave a space as indicated at X in FIGURE 4 which is notcovered by either of the bands 117 or 217 in order to achievesufficiently high yarn feed and rotor velocity. The exact reason forthis phenomenon and requirement is not known. However, itis believedthat the yarn is pulled forward through the zone X during eachrevolution of the yarn through this zone, whereas with substantiallyloose bands (e.g., static tension of approximately -75 grams or the likeas for 20s count cotton yarn) the yarn can be pulled beneath the controlbands about the entire path of angular travel of the yarn balloon.

While various materials may be employed for the con struction of thefiber control bands, I have found it most esirable to employ a flexiblesmooth surfaced band material, such as rubber, synthetic rubber, andvarious plastics such as polyethylene, Mylar, etc. Also, while it isfeasible to use both elastically extensible and nonextensible fibercontrol bands, I have found it most advantageous to employ highlyflexible substantially nonextensibleband constructions, such as forinstance may be found in the conventional constructions employed intextile drafting aprons of synthetic material construction.

The previously described embodiments of FIGURES 1-4 are quite adequatefor low speed operation, i.e., below approximately 2000 rpm. of therotor 319; however, for higher speed operation I have found it desirableto employ some modification of the rotor arrangement. A modification ofthe rotor for this purpose is illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6, whereinthe rotor is provided with an annular groove .319!) which is preferablygenerally V- shaped with, inclined side walls and having a slightlyrounded inner apex andv rounded outer terminal side wall portions, inwhich groove 31917 the series of holes 319a are formed, asshownparticularly in FIGURE 6. These grooves may be radially straight,as shown, or inclined to the axis if desired. Primarily, the groove 31%serves to recess the ring of fibers 325 beneath the outermost surface ofthe rotor 319, thereby spacing the fiber ring beneath the surface of thefiber speeds the fibers tend to stick to the fiber control band 117 andbe retainedthereon if they'are in direct pressure engagement with theband, which sticking hampers the formationof the yarn Y to some degree.Additionally, the groove 31% serves the important function of cambiasing the ring of fibers325 into a more compact bundle, this cambiasing being alfunction of the diiferentialpressure exerted on thefibers through differential air pressure control band 117, as at higherof the rotor 19. The false and air passage through the holes 319a, aswell as the angle of slope of the side walls of the groove. The recessing of the ring of collected fibers 325 beneath the outermost surface ofthe rotor 319, as is effected by collecting the fibers in the grooveM915, also reduces the effect of Windage on the fibers, which windagetends to disrupt the fiber ring, particularly during high speedoperations. This combination effect of the groove 31% and holes 319a isof considerable value in aiding the operation of the apparatus at higherspeeds.

FIGURE 6 also illustrates the preferred manner of formation of the zoneadjacent the groove 31% and series of holes 31%, it being preferred toprovide a smooth annular shoulder 31% adjacent the series of grooves inorder to minimize any tendency of stray fiber ends which may protrudeinwardly through holes 319a to become entangled with one another due toair turbulence resulting from air fiow through the holes 319a. Thisshoulder 3190' may be formed either as an integral part of the rotorbody or as an annular sleeve 31% pressed or otherwise secured intoengagement with the main wall of the rotor of 319, in which latterinstance the sleeve is preferably pressed to a position with its endforming the shoulder 31190 in substantial alignment with the respectiveWall portion of the hole 31%, as shown particularly in FIGURE 6. Thethickness of this shoulder 3190 will vary with varying differentialpressures and size and shape of holes 319a, it having been foundsuitable to employ a sleeve 31% with a shoulder 31% of approximatelyinch thickness for a differential pressure of approximately 1 to 4inches of mercury and a relative hole size and shape as shown in FIGURE6. The sleeve 31% is preferably slightly rounded at the inner annularedge of the shoulder 31%, and is tapered inwardly along the surfaceextending back toward the suction device 22, as indicated at 319d. Thisinward tapering of the effective inside diameter of the rotor isdesirable in order to accelerate the air flow as the air proceedsrearwardly from the intake zone and thereby sweep and maintain as cleanas possible the interior side walls 319d of the rotor. This sleeve 31%may and preferably does extend back to the zone of intersection of therotor 319 with the stationary vacuum conduit 24.

In order to facilitate the formation of a yarn at some desired lowertwist multiple or twist construction, it may be desirable to incorporatea false twist device in the overall arrangement, as shown in FIGURE 7.in this modification, a false twister 37, which may be of anyconventional or suitable construction, is disposed between the closedend of the rotor 19 and the take-up device 25, 23, the false twisterbeing preferably disposed on the axis twister may be suitably drivenfrom the same motive source M as the remaining components of the system,as through a drive connection 35, and is driven in a direction oppositeto the direction of rotation of the rotor 19. Thus, the yarn Y will havean apparent twist at the zone of formation of the yarn adjacent the ringof fibers as which is greater than the twist in the yarn asthe yarn istaken up at the'take-up device 23, 2-5, and this permits the yarn whichis taken up on the roll 23 to have a lesser twist construction thanmight otherwise be necessary in order to effect twisting in of thefibers at the ring 26.

FIGURES 8-10 illustrate a further embodiment according to the invention,in which both of the fiber controlbands 417 and 5517 are disposedbetween the annular groove 41% and series of holes 425 on the one handand the closed outer end of the rotor 419 on the other hand. It willthus be seen that there is no fiber control band provided about thegroove 41% in this embodiment,

and this facilitates the feeding of the fibers by a set of feed rolls413 which may be disposed with their axes transverse to the axis ofrotation of the rotor 19. The provision of these fiber control bands inthis spaced manner between the zone of the holes 425 and the free outerclosed end of the rotor 419 also facilitates the threading up of theyarn Y on the rotor 419. In this embodiment each of the control bands417 and 517 pass about a respective single idler pulley 417a, which ispreferably grooved to provide for spatial positioning of the respectivecontrol band on the rotor 4-19. In order to provide a desired tension onthe fiber control bands 417 and 517, the groove pulleys 417a and 517aare resiliently biased in a direction away from the axis of the rotor419 as by the employment of springs 41712 and 517b which may be of anysuitable type and construction, and may be suitably anchored to asupporting surface 417e, 5170, respectively. The supporting surfaces4170 and 5170 may be movable for adjustment of the spring forces ifdesired.

It has been found in this type of feed arrangement of the fibers 11 tothe rotor 41% that it is desirable to have the fibers feed in at anangle to the axis of the rotor, as viewed from the side as in FIGURE 9.To this end, it is desirable to position the feed rolls 413, or someother guide means for the fibers 11, between the plane of the annulargroove 41% and holes 425 on the one hand and the outer closed end of therotor 4-19 on the other hand. The angled feeding of the fibers to therotors 419 in this manner serves to aid in preventing ends down of yarnY. In the embodiments of FlGURES 1-7, in which the fibers 11 are fed ina substantially flat band with its side portions extending along thelength of the rotor it has been found that this factor is not critical,inasmuch as fibers are inherently fed from both sides of the plane ofthe series of holes so long as the fiber flow path to the rotor issubstantially perpendicular to the length of the rotor.

FIGURE 11 illustrates a further embodiment similar to that of FIGURES8-10 with the feed rolls 513 disposed in alignment with the axis of therotor 419, in order to permit the feeding of two streams of fibers 11and 11a to the rotor 41%. This arrangement is particularly advantageousfor blending of two or more separate fiber quantities. Otherwise, theoperation is substantially similar to that previously disclosed.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to severalillustrative physical embodiments thereof, it will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvementsmay be made without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is notto be limited by the specific illustrative embodiments shown anddescribed herein, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A textile spinning apparatus comprising a rotor closed at one end andhaving an internal vacuum chamber, means forming an annular series ofholes in the peripheral surface of said rotor adjacent said one end andin fluid connection with said vacuum chamber, the zone of said series ofholes forming a narrow annular fiber storage and transfer zone on theperiphery of said rotor, and vacuum conduit means connnecting at theopposite end of said rotor with the said vacuum chamber.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vacuum conduit means isstationary.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of fiberfeed rolls disposed to one lateral side of and in fiber feeding relationto said series of holes.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means forwithdrawing fibers from the periphery of said rotor axially over saidone end of said rotor.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a fiber controlband extending around and in engagement with a portion of the peripheryof said rotor.

6. Apparatus according to claim wherein said fiber control band isdisposed at least in part between said series of holes and said closedend of said roll.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said fiber control bandextends about and encompasses a portion of said series of holes.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said fiber control band isdisposed in spaced relation between said series of holes and said oneclosed end.

9. A textile spinning apparatus comprising a rotor closed at one end andhaving an internal vacuum chamber, means forming an annular series ofholes in the peripheral surface of said rotor adjacent said one end andin fluid connection with said vacuum chamber, the zone of said series ofholes forming an annular fiber storage and transfer zone on theperiphery of said rotor, a fiber control band extending around and inengagement with a portion of the periphery of said rotor, a second fibercontrol band disposed about and in engagement with a further portion ofthe periphery of said rotor and between said first mentioned band andsaid one closed end, and vacuum conduit means connecting at the oppositeend of said rotor with the said vacuum chamber.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said bands are each inpartial encompassing relation with the periphery of said rotor such asto form a peripheral gap in the path of travel of said rotor which gapis devoid of rotor engagement by said bands.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising means forwithdrawing fibers from the external periphery of said rotor over saidone closed end of said rotor.

12. A spinning arrangement comprising a rotatable cylinder having anannular band of perforations forming a narrow external annular fiberstorage and transfer zone, a hollow chamber formed within said cylinderand connecting with said perforations, means for connecting saidcylindrical chamber to a source of negative pressure as compared toambient atmospheric pressure surrounding said cylinder, said cylinderbeing closed at one end, means for rotating said cylinder, and means forwithdrawing fibers from said fiber storage and transfer zone over saidone end while rotating said cylinder.

13. An arrangement according to claim 12, further comprising a fibercontrol band extending around and in engagement with a portion of theperiphery of said cylinder between said band of perforations and saidone end of said cylinder.

14. An arrangement according to claim 13, including an idler roll spacedfrom said cylinder, said fiber control band extending about saidcylinder and said idler roll.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14 including a second fibercontrol band extending around and in engagement with a further portionof the periphery of said cylinder and being at least in partperipherally complementary to the peripheral engagement of said firstmentioned band about said cylinder, and further idler roll means spacedfrom said cylinder and in guiding relation to said second fiber controlband.

16. The method of spinning a textile yarn from staple fibers comprisingdrafting a mass of staple fibers and depositing said staple fibers inannular relation on a narrow external annular fiber storage and transferzone of an external rotating annular peripheral surface while exerting adifferential fluid pressure thereon tending to hold said fibers on saidsurface, and withdrawing said fibers from said storage and transfer zoneaxially over one end of said surface, and collecting said fibers as atwisted yarn externally of said surface.

17. The method of spinning the textile yarn from staple fiberscomprising dissociating a mass of staple fibers, depositing saiddissociated fibers on a narrow annularly apertured fiber storage andtransfer surface while rotating said surface about an axis extendingtransverse to the direction of feed of said fibers onto said surface andwhile exerting a differential fluid pressure force on said fibersopposing the centrifugal force exerted thereon by rotation of saidsurface, continuously withdrawing said fibers from said surface bysequential pickup thereof in running relation about the entire annularperiphery of said surface, said withdrawn fibers being twisted andwithdrawn from said surface in an annular orbiting path extendingaxially of and away from the end of said surface.

18. The method according to claim 17 including exerting a radiallyinwardly mechanically confining force on said fibers after collectionthereof on said external annular fiber storage and transfer surface andduring twisting and withdrawal of said fibers from said surface.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein said mechanical confiningforce is exerted by a continuously moving element engaging with theperiphery of said surface while passing said fibers between saidconfining force exerting element and said surface.

20. The method according to claim 18 including exerting said radiallyinward confining force over a major portion of the periphery of saidsurface.

21. The method according to claim 17 including collecting said fibers asa twisted yarn at a position spaced from said surface, and falsetwisting said fibers between said surface and the zone of take-up in adirection opposite to the direction of rotation of said surface.

22. The method according to claim 17 including exerting a laterallycompressive camming force on said fibers during application of and as afunction of said differential fluid pressure force.

23. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising yarn take-upmeans, and a false twister disposed in yarn flow relation between saidrotor and said yarn take-up means.

24. A textile spinning apparatus comprising a rotor closed at one endand having an internal vacuum chamber, means forming an annular seriesof holes in the peripheral surface of said rotor adjacent said one endand in fluid connection with said vacuum chamber, the zone of saidseries of holes forming an annular fiber storage and transfer zone onthe periphery of said rotor, said annular series of holes being disposedin an annular groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of saidrotor, and vacuum conduit means connecting at the opposite end of saidrotor with the said vacuum chamber.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said groove is V-shaped withconverging side walls which exert a laterally compressive force onfibers held therein by difierential fluid pressure action thereonthrough said holes.

26. A textile spinning apparatus comprising a rotor closed at one endand having an internal vacuum chamber, means forming an annuluar seriesof holes in the peripheral surface of said rotor adjacent said one endand in fluid connection with said vacuum chamber, the zone of saidseries of holes forming an annular fiber storage and transfer zone onthe periphery of said rotor, two spaced apart fiber control bands eachextending about and in engagement with a portion of the periphery ofsaid rotor, each of said bands being disposed in spaced relation betweensaid series of holes and said one closed end, and vacuum conduit meansconnecting at the opposite end of said rotor with the said vacuumchamber.

27. An arrangement according to claim 26 wherein said bandsencompassmutually complementing portions of the path of travel of theengaged periphery of said rotor.

being at least in part peripherally complementary to the 28. Anarrangement according to claim 27 wherein said bands are each in partialencompassing relation with the periphery of said rotor such as to form aperipheral gap in the path of travel of the periphery of said rotor,which gap is devoid of rotor engagement by said bands.

29. An arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising fiber feedmeans laterally spaced from said rotor and arranged for feeding of aportion of the fibers toward said series of holes from a position spacedbetween said series of holes and said one closed end of said rotor.

30. An arrangement according to claim 29 wherein said fiber feed meansincludes a pair of feed rolls having their axes extending insubstantially the same general direction as the axis of rotation of saidrotor.

31. An arrangement according to claim 29 wherein said fiber feed meansincludes a pair of feed rolls having their axes extending transverse tothe axis of rotation of said rotor.

32. An arrangement according to claim 29 wherein said fiber feed meansis adapted to feed fibers in a band extending on both sides of saidseries of holes.

33. An arrangement according to claim 29 including means for feedingfibers along two separate lines to said series of holes, said twoseparate lines of feed each extending at an angle to the plane of saidseries of holes and from opposite sides of said plane.

34. A spinning arrangement comprising a rotatable cylinder having anannular band of perforations forming an external annular fiber storageand transfer zone, a hollow chamber formed within said cylinder andconnecting with said perforations, means for connecting said cylindricalchamber to a source of negative pressure as compared to ambientatmospheric pressure surrounding said cylinder, said cylinder beingclosed at one end, means for rotating said cylinder, a fiber controlband extending around and in engagement with a portion of the peripheryof said cylinder between said band of perforations and said one end ofsaid cylinder, an idler roll spaced from said cylinder, said fibercontrol band extending about said cylinder and said idler roll, a secondfiber control band extending around and in engagement with a furtherportion of the periphery of said cylinder and peripheral engagement ofsaid first mentioned band about said cylinder, a second idler roll meansspaced from said cylinder and in guiding relation to said second fibercontrol band, and means for withdrawing fibers from said fiber storageand transfer zone over said one end while rotating said cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,202,118 Newman et al. May 28, 1940 2,825,937 Guimbretiere et al Mar.11, 1958 2,938,241 Guimbretiere et al. May 31, 1960 2,976,580 RiedelMar. 28, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 590,001 Canada Jan. 5, 1960 880,239 GreatBritain Oct. 18, 1961

1. A TEXTILE SPINNING APPARATUS COMPRISING A ROTOR CLOSED AT ONE END ANDHAVING AN INTERNAL VACUUM CHAMBER, MEANS FORMING AN ANNULAR SERIES OFHOLES IN THE PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID ROTOR ADJACENT SAID ONE END ANDIN FLUID CONNECTION WITH SAID VACUUM CHAMBER, THE ZONE OF SAID SERIES OFHOLES FORMING A NARROW ANNULAR FIBER STORAGE AND TRANSFER ZONE ON THEPERIPHERY OF SAID ROTOR, AND VACUUM CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING AT THEOPPOSITE END OF SAID ROTOR WITH THE SAID VACUUM CHAMBER.